Distilling apparatus



Aug. 18, 1931.

M. R. MITCHELL ETAL 1,319,190

DISTILLING APPARATUS- Filed Sept. 15, 1927 {Sheets-Sheet 2 Manley Rm'tcelz Haber! Skaoy Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES PAT T ()FFICEMANLEY R. MITCHELL AND ROBERT W. SKOOG, OF CHARLESTON,

WEST VIRGINIA,

ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE BALTIMORE GAS ENGINEERINGCORPORATION, OF CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OFMARYLANDDISTILLING APPARATUS Application filed September 15, 1927. Serial No.219,694.

This invention relates to improvements'in distilling apparatus, andparticularly to' anovel apparatus for use, in, distilling water,although it may be used in the distillation of other liquids having aconstant boiling point,

or a substantially constant boiling point. An object of the invention istoprovide a distilling apparatus of simple inexpensive construction,especially suitable for use'in treating small quantities of water or thelike. A still of this character, is useful in filling stations, garages,radio shops, drug stores, laboratories and the like, for distillingwater for use in storage batteries and the like. The apparatus may alsobe employed in homes in cities where distilled drinking water isdesirable because of chlorination of the city water supply. o

A further object is to furnish a light portable distilling apparatus,made up of a few simple parts which may be readily'dismantled forcleaning, transportation, storage or the like.

The apparatus consists essentially of four metal stampings, withthenecessary brackets, conduits and heating elements attached.

Vith the foregoing objects-outlined and with the other objects in viewwhich will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists inthe novel features hereinafter described. in detail, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the improvedapparatus. v

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken on line 2-2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. H Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionalView of a detail, illustrating the distillate drain tube and the liquidseah Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of a detail, taken on line5-5 of'Fig. 2.

. In the drawings, (a) is one of themetal stampings which will behereinafter referred to as the condenser dome. It consists of an opentopped cylindrical pan having a conical bottom (a) projecting upwardlyand forming a dome'in the condensing chamber (a2).

The water or other substance to be distilled isfed into'this pan by wayof pipe (7) which is rotatable in a supporting bracket The water isdischarged into the bottom of the pan, and it ispreheated by'vaporwithin the condensing chamber, and also serves as a medium forabsorbingthe heat from the evaported liquids distilled from below. Theunder surface'of the dome (a) functions as the necessary condensersurface for the heat exchange from the vapors to the cooling liquidabove.

The pan (a) rests on a distillate collector ring (6) which is alsoformed of a metal stamping. This ring has a cylindrical body providedatit-supper end with an outwardly and downwardly extending annular flange(b), which terminates in a channel-shaped rim (b2) that snugly engagesthe bottom of the p an (a). The flange (6) forms a trough to. collectdistillate, and the distillate gathering in this trough, forms a liquidseal to prevent the escape of vapors. The distillate is discharged fromthis trough by suitable means hereinafter described.

"A bafile plate (0), also formed of a metal stamping, is arranged withinthe distillate collector. ring, and is carried by suitable supports (0')on the interior of the ring. The plate is slightly depressed in thecenter, and

has a number of small holes (02) near its edge The, purpose of thisplate is to prevent liquid spray from being carried along with distilledvapors into the condensing chamber (a2), while permitting vapors to passupwardly through the holes 02).

A heating .chamber (d), formed of a metal stamping, is arranged belowthe baffle plate (0). This chamber consists of a container, the centralportion of which is raised sufficiently to allow the distillatecollector ring (6) to set thereover and form with the latter, an. outerchannel. (d) of annular formation.

The lower edge of the ring snugly engages the annular wall (#2) of theheating pan (d) to form the heating chamber (0Z3). The purpose of thisheating chamber is to form infits central portion, the actual surfacethrough which the main portion of the heat is transferred forevaporating the liquid.

The outer channel ((Z) is to give direct preheating to the liquid to bedistilled, and as the top of this channel is open, it will serve toellminate absorbed gases before the liquid enters the main distillingchamber. A heatin element (0) is arranged below the pan (033, and itconsists of the means for furnishing heat for distillation, and meansfor protecting the flame from air currents or com= bustible gas orvapor. The fuel used for heating, may be gasoline, kerosene, combustiblegas or any other suitable fuel, and the means of protecting the flamemay be simply a Wire gauze screen. If desired, the heating element maybe electric.

A conduit (h) permits liquid to flow from the upper portion of thecondenser dome or preheating chamber, into the channel (d' It flows intothis channel at a point where the channel is provided with abafliestamping (m) of U-shaped form in plan. Some of the liquid mayimmediately flow off by way of pipe (j), but the part to be distilledwill discharge from the chamber formed by the baffle (m), by passingthrough notches (m) in the lower edge of this baflle. The liquid willthen flow around the channel (01) and will be directly preheated by theflame from the burner, in order to drive off absorbed gases before theliquid enters the main distilling chamber ((13) through port (7:) whichport is arranged diametrically opposite the overflow outlet 1 The liquiddistillate gathers in the trough formed by the flange (6 and isdischarged by way of spout (Z), see Figs. 3 and 4.

In operation, water or the like is fed to the apparatus by way of pipe(7"), and is preferably allowed to flow continuously. In the pan (a), itwill be preheated by the vapors condensed on the lower surface ofthedome (a), and in this condition, it will overflow through pipe (h), andpass into the compartment in the channel provided by the baffle Fromthis compartment, the liquid will now flow through the notches (m) intothe preheating channel (d') where it will be directly heated to driveoif the gases. The liquid will finally rise to the level of the port andat this time, it will flow into the distilling chamber (d3). At the sametime, liquid flowing through pipe (it) into the compartment formed bythe battle will be partly discharging through the overflow pipe (j) toprevent overfeeding of the distillation chamber. In the latter chamber,the vapors will rise through the ports (62) and condense on the dome(a'), which is cooled by the feed liquid coming into the apparatus. Thecondensates drain down the dome into the trough formed by the flange(6'), and this forms a water seal in the flange. The distillate isdischarged from this seal by Way of the pipe (Z).

The baflle or metal stamping fits loosely in the channel (01'), at thepoint where the overflow water from the conduit (it) enters the channel,and this stamping eX- tends above the liquid level and preventsagitation of the liquid in the channel that would be caused by theoverflow from The baflle plate (m) causes the major portion of theoverflow liquid to pass directly out through conduit but what liquid isneeded to maintain the liquid level in the channel (cl) and heatingchamber, passes through the notches The elements of the apparatus aresup: ported by the bracket (g) and from Fig. 3, it may be seen that thelower arm (9) carries theburner (g2), and is provided with radially.disposed upwardly extending diverging arms (g3), on which the pan (d)rests. An intermediate arm (g4) of the bracket engages said pan tosteady the latter.

When the parts are assembled, the ring (1)) rests loosely on the pan(cl); and the baflle plate (0) and the condenser dome (a) rest looselyon the ring (1)) whereby the parts may be readily dismantled for anydesired purpose.

The apparatus is particularly adapted to the distillation of water,especially in small quantities such as may be needed for radio andautomobile batteries, prescription counters and for drinking purposes.The following features are pointed out to assist in dis-. tinguishingthis apparatus from the prior art:

(1) All liquid, before it enters the evaporating chamber of container(d) must pass around the outer channel ((1') which is subjected to heatdirect from the burner or heating element, and not indirect heat throughheat exchange. This insures the elimination of absorbed gases,particularly air, chlorine, ammonia, etc., and prevents latercontamination of the distilled liquid.

(2) The distillation is continuous and automatic, a constant level beingobtained in the evaporation chamber and the condenser independent of theamount of liquid that is be ing circulated through the system.

(3) The rate of distillation can be increased or decreased at the willof the operator through regulation'of the fuel consumption.

(4) The apparatus has complete accessibility for cleaning. The upperstampings simply rest upon the one underneath, each being held in placeby its own Weight.

(5) Where vapor tight joints are needed between the stampings, theliquid seal principle is used.

(6) Only one connection each is made with the liquid and gas supply.

(7) The apparatus may be used with any source of heat, and the flame isprotected by Wire gauze to prevent interference from air currents and asa protection against explosive mixture.

(8) Danger of the evaporating chamber boiling dry and overheating themetal is entirely prevented by the automatic feature for maintainingliquid level.

(9) The design permits of economical construction throughout.

(10)]3aflle plate (0) prevents liquid from passing into the evaporatingchamber without having been evaporated.

(11) The water and gas connections ar rigidly attached through thebracket arrangement to insure safety and permanency in installation.

(12) The apparatus is so designed that it cannot be utilized in theseparation of liquids of varying boiling points, such as Water andalcohol because of the thorough preheating of all liquid before itenters the distillation chamber.

(13) The apparatus permits of sheet metal construction which is highlyeflicient although small and light in weight.

We are aware that the above described heating element can be entirelyremoved and the balance of the apparatus placed directly over a grid,stove or other heating device for use in laboratories, etc.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation andadvantages of the invention may be readily understood by those skilledin the art, and we are aware that changes may be made in the detailsdisclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention asexpressed in the claims.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A distilling apparatus including a source of heat, a chamber heatedby the latter, an open trough surrounding said chamber and heated by thesource of heat, means for admitting liquid from the trough into saidchamber, and substantially diametrically oppositely arranged means forintroducing the liquid to be distilled into said trough.

2. A distilling apparatus, including a source of heat, a chamber heatedby the latter, a channel surrounding the chamber and heated by thesource of heat, means for admitting liquid from the channel into thechamber, a baflie device arranged in the channel at a substantiallydiametrically opposite point, and having a plurality of walls crossingthe channel, and means for introducing liquid into the channel andbetween said walls.

3. A distilling apparatus including a source of heat, a chamber heatedby the latter, a channel extending along the wall of the chamber andarranged exteriorly of the latter, and heated by the source of heat,means for admitting liquid from the channel into the chamber, a bafliedevice located tween the walls of the baflie.

in the channel at a point remote from the last mentioned means, andcomprising a metal stamping forming walls extending across thechannel,-means in said walls to permit liquid to flow through the same,

includingan overflow passageway communicating with the channel at apoint be- A distilling apparatus including a source of heat, a panheatedby the latter and having a raised central portion forming anannular shoulder, a tubular ring having its lower end resting in the panand detachably engaging said shoulder to form with the ring an internalpan and an external open channel, a port in the ring to admit liquidfrom the channel into the internal pan, and means for feeding the liquidto be dis-tilled into said channel.

6. A distilling apparatus, including a pan, a ring of less diameter thanthe pan, having its lower edge portion engaging the bottom of the pan,said ring forming with the pan a heating chamber and an open channel,said ring having an annular flange, a receptacle resting on said flangeand having its bottom projecting upwardly to form a condenser dome,means for feeding liquid into said receptacle, means for feeding liquidfrom the receptacle into channel at one point, and means for admittingliquid from the channel into the heating chamber at a remote point.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in

which the receptacle loosely rest-s on the flange, and the ring looselyrests on the pan to permit rapid dismantling of the apparatus.

8. A distilling apparatus including a source of heat, a chamber heatedby the latter. a trough surrounding said chamber and heated by thesource of heat, means for admitting liquid from the trough into saidchamber, substantially diametrically oppositely arranged means forintroducing the liquid to be distilled into said trough, and a baflieplate arranged in the trough and cooperating with the means for feedingliquid into the trough to prevent agitation of the liquid in the trough.

9. A distilling apparatus including a source of heat, a chamber heatedby the source of heat, an open trough extending substantiallyhorizontally along the exterior of said chamber and heated by the sourceof heat, means for admitting liquid from the trough into the chamber,and means horizontally spaced from the last mentioned means for feedingthe liquid to be distilled into said trough.

10. In a distilling apparatus of the'character described, a source ofheat, a chamber directly heated by the source of heat, an open troughextending substantially horizontally along the exterior of the Wallofsaid chani berand heated by the source of heat, means for admittingliquid from the trough into the chamber at one point, and meansforintroducing liquid into the trough at a point horizontally spaced fromthe last mentioned point, whereby the liquid to be distilled'will beconstrained to floW along the trough While subjected to heat and exposedto the atmosphere, before entering said chamber.

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures.

'MANLEY R. MITCHELL. ROBERT SKOOG.

